About this project

The Art of Eclipse: The Well and the Black Sea

$70,629

pledged of $40,000 goal

702

backers

Black Sea

Guarding the Flock

Who are Justin Sweet & Vance Kovacs?

We've been freelance artists who have had a career illustrating for films, games, and publishing for 2 decades. We started our careers in 1994 as concept artists at the video game company Interplay Productions in Irvine, Ca.
There, we shared an office for 5 years in the Black Isle Division, drawing, painting and developing ideas for video games. After Interplay we began working as concept artists in films, starting with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Some of the film titles that we've worked on together are, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Snow White & the Huntsman and John Carter. Separately we worked on the titles, Thor, Thor 2, Green Lantern, Men in Black 3, Jack the Giant Killer, 47 Ronin, The Avengers, and Riddick, and upcoming titles like: 300: Rise of an Empire, Dawn of the Planet of The Apes, Noah, and the new Superman Batman movie. Along with the film work, we've continued our illustration within the publishing and video gaming world.

When doing concept work, we’ll often get called in on a job in its early phases, when the ideas are fluid and nothing is set in stone...
We help illustrate and visually develop whatever the worlds ,characters, or props could potentially look like. We come to generate ideas and bring options to the table.

We are completely immersed in the worlds we create. We can't help it. The potential of going into a new world or meeting cool new characters or creatures is something that lights a fire in both of us. It frees our imaginations to run wild. From designing the smallest decorative bits to figuring out the complex workings of a fantasy culture and the stories behind the images we create, every facet becomes a giant puzzle to explore visually. We love it!

Ever since sharing an office back at Interplay, we’ve been aiming to visually explore our own unique world and characters. A place we can explore, direct and develop, deciding for ourselves what stays on the table.

What is Eclipse?

The echoes and anthems of shepherds and kings.
A Well, a Boy.
A Horn.
A Serpent coursing a Black Sea.
A River of Bones.
A Daughter in Her Orchard.
A Warrior Returning Home.

And above them all...
an Eclipse.

Eclipse is a mature poetic fantasy filled with eclectic characters, creatures and places. This is a world that is both mythic and deeply personal to us.
We’ve been struck time and time again over the years with dreams, images, and ideas that have haunted us and tugged at our hearts, some stirring and horrific, some inspiring and glorious. All these are threads, woven together by design into a tapestry that will fill the pages of this book...

Stretch Goals!

We talked about this a lot and have decided that an eventual portfolio of nice prints, measuring 11x11 would be cool to have. These will be images from the book but larger and something that can be framed and put on a wall. These will only be offered to Kickstarter supporters.

LOCKED. Stretch Goal #3. Project reaches $80,000, unlock image #3. All backers starting with the $45.00 pledge amount, receive an additional 11x11 inch print. Furthermore, all 3 images will be enclosed in a portfolio style envelope, stamped with a Carbon Canyon Studios Logo,and signed and numbered by both Vance and Justin.

ART REWARD TIER BREAKDOWN:

What to expect…

In this First Volume, We will be taking all of our traditional and digital paintings, sketches and watercolors, writings and ideas, and creating a concept art book for the world of Eclipse, titled, The Art of Eclipse: The Well and the Black Sea. We promise a hardback book filled with nicely reproduced pictures. A volume to document our visual exploration into the world we've been creating for many years.

Given a successful KickStarter we hope to delve deep into this project just like we would on any film or game project we get hired to do. Reaching our goal will afford us the time we need to develop, assemble, print and ship the art book.
We’re treating this project like we would any game or film project. We’ll collaborate and set out like miners to the mountain. We’ll employ our instincts to mine out every visual jewel, exploring and excavating all we can find in the process.

For You, In the end, regardless of what this volume of work could potentially become..(well...only time will tell..more about that later)…., your support will get you a quality art book full of rich imagery close to our hearts.
For US, this is just the beginning. As the first Carbon Canyon Studios project we’ll have an art book that we can both stand proudly behind and say for the first time on a project that this was our own.

During the course of this Kickstarter run we will be offering up different rewards including more original art etc. So keep posted...

Original Oil painting "White Dragon" for the $10,000 reward.

Risks and challenges

Time is always the issue. We'd love the time to spend on this. We believe it to be a unique world visually and want to develop sketches into rich paintings. We'd love to devote to this the same time we get to devote to other projects that aren't our own. We'll be fulfilling rewards, developing images and assembling the book. Quite a tall order for two blokes...but we're up for it!
The more funding we can get the more time it will allow us to devote and develop this into a full fantasy setting

Shipping:
All pledge amounts include USPS Media Mail shipping within the U.S. Shipping for international orders will receive an additional $48.00 fee. International orders ship by USPS Priority Mail. Taxes and fees vary by country. Please be aware international orders may be required to pay a duty tax by your local postal station.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

THE HUNTER PACKAGE
You will receive one standard edition hardcover book as well as an 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $65 or more
About $65

THE WARRIOR PACKAGE
You will receive one standard edition hardcover book as well as an 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $65 or more
About $65

THE ART STUDENT PACKAGE You will receive one standard edition hardcover book as well as an invitation to an online LIVE evening with Justin & Vance. We'll demo, discuss, and be open to answer any questions you may have about our careers and process. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

DELUXE PACKAGE

You will receive one deluxe signed slipcase edition which will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $200 or more
About $200

DELUXE ARTIST PACKAGE

You will receive one deluxe signed slipcase edition which will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. This edition will also include an original doodle by both Vance and Justin at the back of the book drawn in ink, roughly 5x5 in size. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

FANTASY DELUXE PORTRAIT EDITION Supporters at this level will receive a digital head portrait of themselves or a person of your choice by Vance Kovacs. You supply a photo and Vance will portray you as a fantasy character or creature. Open to suggestions. You'll get a mounted canvas print of the portrait as well as the digital file. You will receive one deluxe signed slipcase edition which will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. This edition will also include an original sketch by both Vance and Justin at the back of the book drawn in ink, roughly 5x5 in size. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $350 or more
About $350

FANTASY DELUXE PEN&INK EDITION Supporters at this level will receive an original Pen & Ink illustration by Vance Kovacs. This image will also be printed inside the deluxe, signed slipcase edition. This edition will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. This edition will also include an original sketch by both Vance and Justin at the back of the book drawn in ink, roughly 5x5 in size. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $400 or more
About $400

FANTASY DELUXE ARTIST EDITION

Supporters at this level will receive an original watercolor done by Justin Sweet. This image will also be printed inside the deluxe, signed slipcase edition. This edition will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. This edition will also include an original sketch by both Vance and Justin at the back of the book drawn in ink, roughly 5x5 in size. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

OPEN STUDIO AND DELUXE EDITION

Supporters at this level are welcome to join Justin and Vance for a day at Carbon Canyon Studios in Yorba Linda California. Travel arrangements are not provided. The day will start at 9:00AM and will be an opportunity to hang out with Justin and Vance until 6:00PM. Justin and Vance will provide lunch at their favorite local Mexican restaurant, El Farolito. The day will feature a demonstration by Vance and Justin in whatever medium preferred. Other options for the day could include a round of Horse shoes, Putting 9 holes on the back lawn, or even a round of Counterstrike Global Offensive (or some other game that Justin and Vance are playing). If the backer is an artist and so desires, he or she can bring their computer and work alongside us and be given portfolio feedback if wanted. Supporters at this level will receive an original watercolor or pen and ink done by Justin Sweet and an original pen and ink by Vance Kovacs. These images will also be printed inside the deluxe, signed slipcase edition. This edition will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kickstarter supporters. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,700 or more
About $1,700

ORIGINAL OIL AND DELUXE EDITION

This package will include one 16x20 oil painting done by Justin Sweet featuring you or someone else you choose, mounted on some fantasy creature (Justin would be open for suggestions regarding the creature.) We would also like to take you to lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Travel arrangements to the studio are not included but Justin and Vance would be happy to meet anywhere in LA or Orange County. You will receive one deluxe signed slipcase edition which will include 15 extra pages not found in the standard edition. This edition will also include an original sketch by both Vance and Justin at the back of the book drawn in ink, roughly 5x5 in size. Also included is the 8x10 signed art print exclusive to Kick starter supporters. Additionally, your name will be listed on a special thank you page in the book itself. International orders please add $48.00 for shipping. Canada please add $34.00.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

ORIGINAL OIL AND DELUXE EDITION EXTREME

You get the original framed oil painting, “White Dragon” by Justin Sweet. Dimensions are 30 inches by 40 inches. Along with this will be included everything in the Original Oil and Deluxe Edition package.